Submitted by Rebecca Ludwig (not verified) on March 26, 2008 - 08:49.
Teaching in an urban school district
As a music teacher in the Baltimore City Public Schools, I find that the students here are predominately kinesthetic learners. Dalcroze eurhythmics has made this much easier. I find that I am constantly changing my ways of teaching to incorporate Dalcroze. My students learn best by moving and playing instruments. Gone are the days when the music teacher could sit behind the piano and the children would sit and sing, and enjoy doing it. I incorporate all other subjects into my teaching, so that I can support the learning that takes place in the school. I teach songs that teach math skills, the states and capitals, the planets in the solar system, and many other cross-curricular skills within the realms of music. I also teach melody, rhythm, form, etc. The "hook" for my students is competition. They love having a chart that shows individual successes, whether it is for completing a new belt in Recorder Karate, or my band students' practice times on the "1000 minutes" club. My students understand that it is okay to fail in my classroom. Mistakes are welcome, so that we can ALL learn from them. I point out my mistakes to them so that they realize that I, too, make hundreds of mistakes each day. I do not criticize students for mistakes, as long as they give me their best work. When I ask if it really IS their best work, oftentimes they will admit that they can do better and want a second chance. This allows for them to be in charge of their own realizations, and can fix the problem quickly.
I hope that this gives the reader some insight into teaching urban youth. I am finding that the students are no different from the rural or suburban students. Only the lifestyles (and problems) are different.
Teaching in an urban school district
Submitted by Rebecca Ludwig (not verified) on March 26, 2008 - 08:49.
Teaching in an urban school district
As a music teacher in the Baltimore City Public Schools, I find that the students here are predominately kinesthetic learners. Dalcroze eurhythmics has made this much easier. I find that I am constantly changing my ways of teaching to incorporate Dalcroze. My students learn best by moving and playing instruments. Gone are the days when the music teacher could sit behind the piano and the children would sit and sing, and enjoy doing it. I incorporate all other subjects into my teaching, so that I can support the learning that takes place in the school. I teach songs that teach math skills, the states and capitals, the planets in the solar system, and many other cross-curricular skills within the realms of music. I also teach melody, rhythm, form, etc. The "hook" for my students is competition. They love having a chart that shows individual successes, whether it is for completing a new belt in Recorder Karate, or my band students' practice times on the "1000 minutes" club. My students understand that it is okay to fail in my classroom. Mistakes are welcome, so that we can ALL learn from them. I point out my mistakes to them so that they realize that I, too, make hundreds of mistakes each day. I do not criticize students for mistakes, as long as they give me their best work. When I ask if it really IS their best work, oftentimes they will admit that they can do better and want a second chance. This allows for them to be in charge of their own realizations, and can fix the problem quickly.
I hope that this gives the reader some insight into teaching urban youth. I am finding that the students are no different from the rural or suburban students. Only the lifestyles (and problems) are different.